The Orthodox Union (OU) – the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, lauds California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement that he plans to allocate $15 million for the State Nonprofit Security Grant Program in his budget.
The grant program provides unprecedented funding for security grants for nonpublic schools, places of worship and other nonprofit institutions. The program will provide up to $200,000 per recipient and will for the first time allow for security personnel funding for nonprofits at risk of bias crimes or attacks due to their ideology, beliefs or mission.
Teach CA, a project of the Orthodox Union that advocates for equitable funding for nonpublic schools and institutions in California, has been advocating for increased security funding for at risk institutions since 2016, and specifically to increase the critical State Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
Both on the state and federal levels, the Orthodox Union has long focused on creating legislation to increase safety for schools and other nonprofits at risk of terror attacks. Teach CA and its affiliated region-based programs in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida Maryland and Ontario stand ready to work with their communities to assist them in securing and advocating for similar funding programs.
“In light of the senseless act of anti-Semitic violence at the Chabad of Poway Synagogue, a strong response was necessary by the government of California to ensure that people of all faiths feel safe in their community institutions. Today, the Jewish Caucus and Governor Newsom have shown their commitment to the safety and security of all Californians, including those most at risk of bias or hate crimes,” said Orthodox Union Executive Vice President Allen Fagin.
“We are extremely grateful to the Governor and the members of the Jewish Caucus for heeding the call of so many and making the well-being and security of our schools and places of worship a top priority,” said Orthodox Union President Moishe Bane.
Founded in 1898, the Orthodox Union, (OU), serves as the voice of American Orthodox Jewry, with over 400 congregations in its synagogue network. As the umbrella organization for American Orthodox Jewry, the OU is at the forefront of advocacy work on both state and federal levels, outreach to Jewish teens and young professionals through NCSY, Birthright Israel/Israel Free Spirit, Yachad and OU Press, among many other divisions and programs. For more information, visit https://www.ou.org/.
